Question about the inspiration of Scripture

[Toasty]

How would you respond to those who say that the ideas of Scripture were inspired, but not the actual words of Scripture?

 

[Cymro]

Surely the ideas of God, or thoughts of God, must be communicated by words equal
to the divine content. Otherwise the ideas themselves are suspect.

 

[Contra_Mundum]

I think Scripture's own view of its own words is the best commentary.

Ps.12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Prv.30:5 Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Mt.5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Now in fact, the ideas of Scripture cannot be separated from the words. Imagine someone saying that any other famous work of literature, of history, of ethics, of mathematics--of anything--contained some great ideas, some truth, a compelling story; but that the words themselves used to convey the valued commodity were completely arbitrary and dispensable. It would be correct to observe this as a trick to take from that text (foist upon it) practically anything at all.

This is vandalism. This is ripping off the earned merits of a title (that went along with fixed content), and slapping it upon one's own ideas.

 

[Toasty]

I think Scripture's own view of its own words is the best commentary.

Ps.12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Prv.30:5 Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Mt.5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Now in fact, the ideas of Scripture cannot be separated from the words. Imagine someone saying that any other famous work of literature, of history, of ethics, of mathematics--of anything--contained some great ideas, some truth, a compelling story; but that the words themselves used to convey the valued commodity were completely arbitrary and dispensable. It would be correct to observe this as a trick to take from that text (foist upon it) practically anything at all.

This is vandalism. This is ripping off the earned merits of a title (that went along with fixed content), and slapping it upon one's own ideas.

Thank you. Those are some great truths.